New Year’s Resolutions don’t stick, do they?
Why? What is really going on? What are we missing?
I think most of us blame ourselves. We think we just can’t stick with things. We blame ourselves when we “cave in” and eat all the desserts we’ve promised ourselves we’d ditch for life. We think we’re weak.
And some of us also feel like the victim of circumstances. We blame our work schedules, our kids’ schedules, our picky eaters at home, our hormones, or our metabolism. We think that the deck is stacked against us and there’s no point in even trying.
There’s another option, and it starts with a shift in your mindset toward weight loss. So, let’s start there. Then, we’ll talk about how to stop running circles on your health journey and the guardrails you need that guarantee your success in 2026.
These three key steps will make your resolutions stick for life. It’s not complicated it just makes sense. You’ll see…
First, You Need a Mindset Shift (from Apathy to Self-Agency).
This is how we talk about weight loss:
- I really need to lose some weight.
- I really shouldn’t be eating this.
- I should get to the gym.
- I should eat better.
- I really need to get my act together.
You really don’t have to lose weight if you don’t want to. It’s your choice! No one gets to make that decision about your life and your body but you.
Some circumstances are out of your control (like whether a nice gym and Trader Joe’s are located a block from your house). But how you live within your circumstances is totally up to you.
And guess what? There’s no right or wrong answer. If you decide that you’d rather let your health be lower on your priority list, you can choose that. If you decide that prioritizing your health matters to you, you can do that instead.
Start by listing the pros and cons of prioritizing your health versus letting it slip to the side. This will help you make the decision that feels right for you. Here’s a starting point:
Prioritizing My Health Will Lead To…
- More years to live
- Better quality of life in those years (less chance of getting things like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes)
- More energy for myself or to spend with my family and friends
- Feeling a lot better every day
- Better mental health and a brighter mood
- An easier time sleeping and staying asleep
- Confidence in my body and less self–conscious in moments that matter (like family vacations, weddings, or girls’ nights out)
- More balanced hormones and easier symptoms during peri-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause
Prioritizing My Health Requires…
- Saying no to certain habits (like regularly eating highly processed foods)
- Setting up healthy habits that fit in my real life (like workouts I enjoy, healthy dinners my family and I love, a sleep schedule that matches my season, etc.)
(And, by the way, if these requirements intimidate you, you’re in the right place. Just keep reading…)
Letting My Health Slip to the Side Will Give Me…
- More time in the moment instead of working out or cooking
- A more relaxed mindset toward how I live (eat whatever, do whatever)
Letting My Health Slip to the Side Will Lead To…
- Fewer years of life overall
- More sickness and a higher chance of chronic disease later in life
- Feeling worse on a daily basis (low energy, low mood, poor sleep, bloating)
- Weight gain, which may lead to self-consciousness, depending on my preferences for my body composition
So, start with self-agency: the powerful sense that you are in control of your own life, choices, and actions. Decide for yourself—what do you want? This mindset shift will allow you to initiate and direct your own path rather than just reacting to outside voices and circumstances.
Second, You Need to Fit Your Health Plan Into Your Life, Not Fit Your Life Into Your Health Plan.
Something funny can happen when we get really into our health goals. It’s the same conundrum that can happen when we commit to having a clean house. We start to obsess. Then, we spend all our time striving and working toward the goal until we don’t have time to sit back and enjoy the results.
Here’s how it can look in our health journey:
- You start to see real results. The scale is dropping.
- You start fixating on what you eat to keep progress moving.
- You’re thinking about hitting your calorie burn goal all the time, constantly trying to fit in those extra steps
- You’re regularly checking your macro calculator and fitness apps. Whatever time you’re not eating and exercising, you’re planning your next meals and workouts.
What’s next? You burn out. And good thing, too! Who wants to gain health just to live a life obsessing over gaining health? It’s like a dog chasing its tail, and deep down, we know it’s a waste. So, we bail.
There’s a better way.
It’s where the habits you form are almost automatic. They’re in the background. Like the stage crew at a play, they fill a critical role and get a job done so that the beautiful performance can continue.
Your healthy habits should work hard in the background so that you can live a beautiful life.
Here’s what this can look like:
- Your focus during meals is on the people around you—you’re not stressing about serving sizes or calculating calories in your head because you already have a big list of macro-balanced meals you can easily rotate through each season.
- Your workouts are a time you look forward to because you feel so good during and after them. Now, you understand how different workouts affect your body, so your workouts are extremely efficient—they’re effective even though you’re spending less time at the gym.
- You have built in habits you actually like that keep you active—maybe it’s taking your dog to the park, playing kickball with your kids, or having long morning walks and talks with your closest friend.
- You’ve replaced the foods you used to enjoy but made you feel crummy with indulgences that are nutritious for your body too (like collagen lattes in the morning and fudgy sweet potato brownies after dinner)
- You don’t think about food around the clock. In fact, you don’t think about food hardly at all because you know your next meal will be satiating, nourishing, and energizing for hours.
- Instead of filling your head and fussing over your fitness, you’re living your life. You have more energy to play with your kids. You have more mental clarity to tackle a new project at work. You have the confidence to buy a new dress for date night. You have more positive moods that you can channel into a hobby you love.
This is what it looks like when our health goals are working for our lives, not the other way around. And it’s what we all really want.
Third, You Need Guard Rails that Guarantee Your Success.
Two people (Emily and Abby) wanted to climb a mountain.
Emily had tried and failed year after year. This year, she was at it again, convinced that if she just tried harder this time, she’d make it to the top.
Abby had tried and failed year after year too. This year, she was at it again—but this time, she had a team. She had a mountain guide, local experts, and a medical personnel who would all ensure a successful and safe ascent.
Who do you think made it to the top?
The answer is obvious. Yet, when it comes to our own health and fitness goals, we revert back to doing things solo.
Have you tried and failed year after year? You’re not alone. This year, get at it again, but follow Abby’s lead. Find your team. Find the people who will ensure your success. Find the experts who will walk every step with you, who know the path well, who’ve planned the route, and who will guarantee you have everything you need to keep moving forward.
Find LEAN, and you’ll make it to the top.
